Transporting system for transporting a container, and method for operating a production installation having a transporting system

ABSTRACT

In a transporting system for transporting a container, and a method for operating a production installation having a transporting system, the transporting system has a vehicle and a transport vehicle, on whose frame two wheel drives are disposed, which are set apart from each other and have a wheel in each case, in particular, the two wheels are disposed so as to touch a floor in order to generate traction force for the transport vehicle, in particular, the wheel axles of the two wheels are aligned parallel to each other. A first and a second shoulder part are situated and/or provided on the frame, and the first shoulder part is situated at a distance from the second shoulder part, and a space region is situated between the wheel drives and between the shoulder parts, into which the vehicle together with the container it accommodates is able to be driven and out of which the vehicle together with the container may be driven. The container has a width that is greater than the distance, in particular the smallest distance, between the shoulder parts, the vehicle has a lifting device, and the vehicle is able to be driven into the space region when the lifting device is lowered and also when it is raised. When the lifting device is raised, the container is able to be positioned above the shoulder parts on the vehicle, and when the lifting device is lowered, the container may be positioned so as to sit on the shoulder parts.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a transporting system for transportinga container and to a method for operating a production installationhaving a transporting system.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Certain transporting systems for transporting a container areconventional. Conveyor lines, i.e. conveyor belts, for example, may beprovided for this purpose.

Example embodiments of the present invention provide a transportingsystem for a logistical transport.

According to an example embodiment of the invention, a transportingsystem for transporting a container includes a vehicle and a transportvehicle on whose frame two wheel drives are provided, which are setapart from each other and have a wheel in each case, in particular, thetwo wheels are disposed so as to touch a floor in order to generate atraction force for the transport vehicle, in particular, the wheel axlesof the two wheels are aligned in parallel with each other. A first and asecond shoulder part are disposed and/or provided on the frame, thefirst shoulder part being set apart from the second shoulder part, and aspace region is situated between the wheel drives and between theshoulder parts, into which the vehicle together with the container it iscarrying is able to be driven and out of which the vehicle together withthe container is able to be driven, the container having a width that isgreater than the distance, in particular the smallest distance, betweenthe shoulder parts.

The vehicle has a lifting device and the vehicle is able to be driveninto the space region when the lifting device is lowered and also whenit is raised. The container is able to be placed above the shoulderparts on the vehicle when the lifting device is raised, and when thelifting device is lowered, the container may be placed so that it sitson the shoulder parts.

This has the advantage that the vehicle may be driven into the spaceregion in the transport vehicle when the lifting device is raised, thecontainer being situated above the shoulder parts, i.e. at a greaterdistance from the floor than the shoulder parts. Because of the loweringof the lifting device, and thus the lowering of the container, thiscontainer is set down on the shoulder parts on account of its sufficientwidth. The width of the container refers to the extension of thecontainer in the direction of the shortest connection line between thetwo shoulder parts. The vehicle including its lifting device has asufficiently small width to allow the lifting device to be raised orlowered in the clearance region between the shoulder parts. As a result,it is possible to transfer a container, which is accommodated on alifting device of the vehicle, to the transport vehicle, which has aprotective frame including a housing. As a minimum, the housing of thetransport vehicle surrounds the container not only from the sides butalso from above, i.e. as a roof, as well. In this manner, the containeris able to be protected from precipitation. After the vehicle has beendriven out of the space region, the transport vehicle is freelymaneuverable on the floor, which thus means, for example, that it isalso able to be driven into a truck or into a freight train wagon.

A transport inside a building is therefore able to be carried out withthe aid of the vehicle, and a transport outside the building may becarried out with the aid of the transport vehicle.

Transport goods are storable in the container.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, alogistical transport is therefore able to be carried out in anintralogistical transport, i.e. a transport inside a building, and anoutside transport in the environment.

The intralogistical transport may be carried out using a cost-effectiveand simple vehicle equipped with a lifting device. The outside transportmay be provided using a transport vehicle that provides protection fromenvironmental effects. The transport vehicle is provided with aprotective housing for this purpose, which especially includes anactivatable cover, i.e. a roller-type shutter door or door or the like.

The first and the second shoulder parts may be arranged as two tracksthat extend parallel to each other, the track direction in particularextending parallel to the driving direction of the vehicle relative tothe transport vehicle when the vehicle is entering or leaving. This hasthe advantage of offering a stable support for the container.

The space region may be closed off by a cover, in particular such thatthe stored containers are disposed so as to be protected fromprecipitation from the environment. This has the advantage that thecontainer is able to be transported outdoors. The cover may be arrangedas a roller-type shutter door, a door, etc. The cover has to be able tobe deactivated so that the space region for the vehicle is freelyaccessible. A protective closing of the space region is possible onlywhen the cover is activated.

The two shoulder parts, in particular the contact faces of the containerand of the shoulder parts, may have the same distance from the floor.This is considered advantageous inasmuch as the container is able to beset down on the shoulder parts without tilting provided the containerhas a planar bearing surface on its underside, it being able to beplaced on the shoulder parts via the bearing surface.

The vehicle may be able to drive underneath the shoulder parts, inparticular when the lifting device is lowered. This offers the advantageof allowing a vehicle to drive underneath the load without makingcontact. Thus, after the vehicle has entered, the lifting device is ableto be raised, which then allows the container to be lifted.

The wheel drives may be disposed on the frame of the transport vehiclein a linearly mobile manner, and in particular are slidingly orresiliently supported. This offers the advantage that it is not theentire weight of the transport vehicle that is conducted via the wheelsbut only the weight of the wheel drives.

The transport vehicle may have castors for conducting the weight forceof the transport vehicle, which is reduced by the weight force of thewheel drives, and in particular the space region is disposed between thecastors. This offers the advantage that the castors are able to beconfigured in a correspondingly cost-effective and sturdy manner so thata substantial share of the weight force is able to be conducted to thefloor via the castors.

The wheel drives may have an electric motor in each case, and an energystore, which can be fed via a secondary winding, is able to supply theelectric motors, which offers the advantage of allowing for an inductivetransmission of electrical energy from the direction of the floor to thetransport vehicle.

The secondary winding may be able to be inductively coupled with aprimary conductor disposed on the floor. This is considered advantageousinsofar as a contact-free inductive energy supply is able to beprovided.

A capacity may be connected to the secondary winding in series or inparallel, the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit created inthis manner corresponding to the frequency of the alternating currentimpressed into the primary conductor. This has the advantage ofachieving a high efficiency in the inductive transmission of electricalenergy.

The transport vehicle may include a control, which is connected to aposition-detection system of the transport vehicle and/or to distancesensors of the transport vehicle. This is considered advantageousinasmuch as it allows for an uncomplicated navigation.

According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a methodfor operating a production installation having a transporting systemincludes a first method step, in which the transport vehicle, whichparticularly was delivered by an infrastructure vehicle, drivesautonomously past a sensor of the production installation, in particularthrough an entrance gate of the production installation, and into atransfer zone, the sensor in particular has an RFID reader device, andwith the aid of the sensor, an item of information pertaining to thegoods held in a container, in particular transport goods, is transmittedto a central processor of the production installation, energy issupplied, in particular inductively, to the transport vehicle in thetransfer zone in order to charge its energy store. In a following methodstep, the transport vehicle autonomously drives to an assembly cell, thevehicle removes at least one container from the transport vehicle andtransports it to one of the workstations of the assembly cell, where thevehicle sets down the container, in particular on a bearing block of therespective workstation, and an item of goods, in particular an item oftransport goods, is removed from the container in order to manufacture aproduct at the respective workstation.

This is considered advantageous inasmuch as no storage facility isrequired for the containers transported by the transport vehicle butinstead the transport vehicle itself is able to be used as a storagearea, in particular inside the transfer zone. A high-bay racking istherefore able to be dispensed with or may at least have a smallerconfiguration if classic logistical method steps are used in addition,parallel to the described transport vehicle and its utilization.

After the container has been emptied, it may be picked up by the vehicleand stored in a transport vehicle, or the transport vehicle, whichespecially drives in an autonomous manner across the transfer zone andpast the sensor out of the production installation, in particular to afurther infrastructure vehicle. This offers the advantage that anempties circuit may easily be provided that the transport vehicles areable to be used not only for delivering goods but also for carryingempty containers away.

Further features and aspects of example embodiments of the presentinvention are described in greater detail below with reference to theFigures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first status of an intralogistical system, which includesa transport vehicle 4 and a vehicle 3 that transports a container 2.

FIG. 2 shows a second status of the system, where containers 2 are setdown on a shoulder 8 of transport vehicle 4 and vehicle 3 drives out oftransport vehicle 4.

FIG. 3 shows an oblique view of transport vehicle 4 together withcontainers that have been stored inside transport vehicle 4 on shoulder8.

FIG. 4 shows a commercial truck 41, into which transport vehicles havebeen driven and thus accommodated.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the intralogistical system for aproduction installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in the Figures, the intralogistical system according toan example embodiment of the present invention has a vehicle 3, which isable to be maneuvered on the floor and has a receptacle, in particular aplate, that is able to be raised or lowered.

Thus, it is possible to drive underneath a container 2, i.e. acontainer, which is supported on bearing blocks 1, the container beingable to be accommodated by raising the liftable receptacle. This is sobecause container 2 is simply set down on bearing blocks 1 from aboveand may thus be removed from the bearing blocks by lifting with the aidof the receptacle of vehicle 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, vehicle 3 together with the accommodatedcontainers 2 then drives into a transport vehicle 4, which is arrangedin the shape of a capsule. Transport vehicle 4 has its own castors 7 sothat the weight of the transport vehicle is substantially absorbed bycastors 7. The castors are supported in a rotatable manner so thattransport vehicle 4 is able to move on the floor. Castors 7 areconnected to the frame of transport vehicle 4 by an axle andconsequently always rotate according to the driving direction.

Transport vehicle 4 also includes a control, which controls drives 5driving wheels. These wheels induce the traction. Steering, i.e. achange in the direction of traction, is able to be achieved bydifferences in the rotational frequency of wheels that are disposedopposite each other.

The wheels are pressed against the floor only to such an extent thatsufficient stiction is present for inducing the propulsion. For example,the drive is slidingly or resiliently disposed on the frame of thetransport vehicle so that only the weight force of the drive isconducted via the wheels to the floor.

At least one drive, which has at least one wheel in each case, isdisposed on both sides of the particular space region entered by vehicle3 in order to store containers 2 inside transport vehicle 4 or to removethem from there. As long as vehicle 3 remains inside transport vehicle4, transport vehicle 4 does not move or moves merely parallel to vehicle3.

Transport vehicle 4 has a housing part, which is connected to the frameof transport vehicle 4 and at least partially surrounds storedcontainers 2 in the manner of a housing.

A shoulder 8 is provided on both sides on the inner side of the housingpart or frame of transport vehicle 4, a projecting section being formed,in particular. When the liftable receptacle is lowered, the containersprojecting from vehicle 3 on both sides are therefore set down onshoulder 8, which is arranged on both sides and, for example, in twoparts. As a result, transport vehicle 4 transports containers 2 aftervehicle 3 has been driven out of transport vehicle 4.

Shoulder 8 is set apart from the floor such that vehicle 3 is able todrive underneath containers 2. When the lifting axle is lowered, vehicle3 is therefore able to drive underneath containers 2 stored in transportvehicle 4 and accommodate them by raising the lifting axle.

As may be gathered from FIG. 3, the housing part of transport vehicle 4covers containers 2 stored therein in the form of a roof.

The entry region provided for vehicle 3 is able to be locked with theaid of a cover 40, in particular a roller-type shutter door, i.e. aroller-type shutter gate, so that containers 2 inside transport vehicle4 are protected from precipitation or dirt of the environment when cover40 is activated. In order to allow vehicles 3 to drive into transportvehicle 4, cover 40 is deactivated, thereby making the entry areaaccessible to vehicle 3.

Two driven wheels together with their drives 6 are mounted on the frameof the transport vehicle such that a vehicle 3 together with containers2 is able to be driven into transport vehicle 4; the lifting axle israised for this purpose so that containers 2 are disposed above shoulder8. In addition, vehicle 3 is located between the two wheels, i.e. theconnection line, especially each connection line, of the two wheelsintersects with vehicle 3.

The minimum mutual distance between the two shoulder parts 8 is smallerthan the width of containers 2.

The floor is, for example, arranged as a planar surface. It thereforerepresents a maneuvering plane for transport vehicle 4 and vehicle 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, transport vehicles 4 of the type illustratedin FIGS. 1 through 4 are able to be stored inside a truck 41; transportvehicles 4 control the entry into trucks 41 on their own, i.e.autonomously, and then park next to each other. A high density oftransport vehicles 4 is therefore able to be achieved.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the intralogistical system may be used in aproduction installation inasmuch as a storage facility, e.g., a high-bayracking, is able to be saved or may at least have a smallerconfiguration.

The reason is that transport vehicles 4 are delivered with the aid of aninfrastructure vehicle such as truck 41 and/or with the aid of a railvehicle. Transport vehicles 4 drive autonomously out of the deliveringinfrastructure vehicle and then move through an entrance gate of theproduction installation. A sensor 50 is situated at this entrance gate,which detects transport vehicle 4 when it passes through the entrancegate and detects the goods contained in containers 2 transported bytransport vehicle 4. This is accomplished with the aid of RFID tags, forexample, which are read out by a reader device included by sensor 50.Alternatively, it is also possible to provide each container 2 with anRFID tag, which includes the information about the goods stored in thecontainer, and a reader device, included by sensor 50, reads out theRFID tags.

In this manner, it is made known to the central control of theproduction installation which goods are held in respective transportvehicle 4.

Transport vehicle 4 then drives into a transfer zone 51, where it parksat a respective charge station and is able to be supplied with energy.Primary conductors acted upon by an alternating current are installed inthe floor for this purpose so that a secondary winding disposed on theunderside of a respective transport vehicle 4, and thus an energy storeof the transport vehicle, is able to be inductively supplied by therespective primary conductor.

A product is manufactured in an assembly cell 52 of the productioninstallation, which includes a plurality of workstations seriallydisposed in a U-shape, and a respective manufacturing step is carriedout at each workstation.

At least one container 2, which was removed from transport vehicle 4with the aid of vehicle 3 and transported to the respective workstationof assembly cell 52, is stored at a respective workstation of theassembly cell. During the manufacturing step at the respectiveworkstation, an item of goods required for the manufacturing step isremoved from container 2 stored at the workstation and is used formanufacturing the product.

Empty containers 2 are picked up by vehicle 3 and stored inside atransport vehicle 4, which then leaves the production installation viatransfer zone 51 in the direction of a further infrastructure vehicle.

Instead of the U-shaped arrangement, it is also possible to use someother serial arrangement of the workstations in other exemplaryembodiments according to the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 bearing block-   2 container-   3 vehicle-   4 transport vehicle-   5 secondary winding-   6 drive with drive wheels-   7 castors-   8 shoulder, in particular projecting section of the housing part of    transport vehicle 4-   40 cover-   41 truck-   50 sensor-   51 transfer zone-   52 assembly cell having a plurality of workstations serially    disposed in a U-shape

The invention claimed is:
 1. A transport system for transporting acontainer, comprising: a vehicle; a transport vehicle including a frameand two wheel drives provided on the frame, the two wheel drives setapart from each other, each wheel drive including a wheel; wherein theframe includes a first shoulder part and a second shoulder part setapart from each other, a space region being arranged between the wheeldrives and between the shoulder parts, the vehicle adapted to drive on afloor surface into and out of the space region and adapted to carry thecontainer into and out of the space region, the vehicle including alifting device and adapted to be driven into the space region when thelifting device is lowered and also when the lifting device is raised;and wherein the lifting device is adapted to raise the container abovethe shoulder parts on the vehicle when the lifting device is raised andis adapted to lower the container to sit on the shoulder parts when thelifting device is lowered; and wherein the two wheels are adapted totouch the floor surface to generate a traction force for the transportvehicle.
 2. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein wheelaxles of the two wheels are aligned parallel to each other.
 3. Thetransport system according to claim 1, wherein the first and the secondshoulder parts are arranged as two tracks that extend in parallel. 4.The transport system according to claim 3, wherein a track direction isparallel to a driving direction of the vehicle in relation to thetransport vehicle when the vehicle is entering or leaving.
 5. Thetransport system according to claim 1, wherein the space region isclosable by a cover to protect stored containers from environmentalprecipitation.
 6. The transport system according to claim 1, wherein thetwo shoulder parts, and/or contact faces of the container and theshoulder parts, have the same distance from the floor.
 7. The transportsystem according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is adapted to driveunderneath the shoulder parts and/or to drive underneath the shoulderparts when the lifting device is lowered.
 8. The transport systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the wheel drives are arranged on the frameof the transport vehicle, are adapted to be linearly mobile, and/or aresupported in a sliding and/or resilient manner.
 9. The transport systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the transport vehicle includes castersadapted to conduct a weight force of the transport vehicle, reduced by aweight force of the wheel drives.
 10. The transport system according toclaim 9, wherein, the space region is arranged between the casters. 11.A method for operating a production installation having a transportsystem according to claim 1, comprising: autonomously driving thetransport vehicle past a sensor of the production installation and intoa transfer zone; transmitting, with the aid of the sensor, an item ofinformation about goods and/or transport goods held in a container to acentral processor of the production installation; autonomously drivingthe transport vehicle to an assembly cell; removing, by the vehicle, atleast one container from the transport vehicle; transporting thecontainer to a workstation of the assembly cell; setting the containerdown at the workstation of the assembly cell; and removing an item ofgoods and/or an item of transport goods from the container tomanufacture a product at the workstation.
 12. The method according toclaim 11, further comprising delivering the transport vehicle by aninfrastructure vehicle.
 13. The method according to claim 11, whereinthe autonomously driving step includes autonomously driving thetransport vehicle through an entrance gate of the productioninstallation.
 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sensorincludes an RFID reader device.
 15. The method according to claim 11,further comprising supplying energy to the transport vehicle in thetransfer zone to charge an energy store of the transport vehicle. 16.The method according to claim 11, further comprising inductivelysupplying energy to the transport vehicle in the transfer zone to chargean energy store of the transport vehicle.
 17. The method according toclaim 11, wherein the container is set down in the setting down on abearing block of the workstation.
 18. The method according to claim 11,further comprising, emptying the container, and after emptying thecontainer, picking up the container by the vehicle and storing thecontainer in a transport vehicle.
 19. The method according to claim 18,further comprising, after storing the container in the transportvehicle, autonomously driving the transport vehicle out of theproduction installation.
 20. The method according to claim 18, whereinthe transport vehicle is autonomously driven across the transfer zoneand past the sensor.
 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein thetransport vehicle is autonomously driven to a further infrastructurevehicle.